Each year since 2020, the French Institutes in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden jointly award a prize to four young researchers from the Nordic region in recognition of their outstanding achievements. The French Institute Nordic Award (FINA) aims to foster scientific cooperation on a theme of shared interest for both the Nordic countries and France.
Theme of the year 2026: the Arctic
The Arctic stands as a pivotal region at the intersection of environmental, economic, and societal dynamics. As a sentinel of environmental change and at the heart of current geopolitical stakes, the Arctic presents unique challenges and opportunities.
The 2026 edition of the FINA Prize aims to highlight the work of young Nordic researchers working on the Arctic by giving them the opportunity to travel to France to develop or strengthen scientific cooperation with French institutions and researchers.
Who can apply
This programme is open to consortia composed of four young researchers (PhD students or holders of a PhD degree for less than five years).
Each applicant consortium must be composed of:
- A researcher affiliated with a Swedish institution (university, research institute from the public or private sector),
- A researcher affiliated with a Norwegian institution,
- A researcher affiliated with a Finnish institution,
- A researcher affiliated with a Danish institution.
There is no condition of nationality.
All research fields, including human and social sciences, contributing to Arctic research, are eligible for this call for projects.
The consortium must be created before applying and may already exist prior to this call. All four countries must be represented in the consortium.
Application procedure
Applicants must send the following documents (in pdf):
- A description of the provisional program in France (at least one week) including:
- The list of persons you intend to meet with and institutions you intend to visit,Links that are already established with France by one or several members of the consortium,
- Objectives of the trip and its relevance, mentioning the expected benefits for French-Nordic cooperation.
- For each member of the consortium:
- A scientific resume (CV), including a list of selected publications (max. 2 pages),A presentation of the current research (max. 2 pages),
- A copy of a document attesting of the participant’s affiliation with a local research or higher education institution.
before June 19, 2026, at 23:59 (Central European Time), to the Institut français de Suède, by completing the form below – only one application per consortium, gathering all the documents listed above.
All applications must be in English or in French.
Selection procedure
Applications will be assessed by a by a selection committee composed of the Directors and Scientific attachés of the four French Institutes.
The selection criteria will be as follows:
- The content of the provisional program; it is not required that the program be extensively confirmed by the persons and institutions visited, but programs in more advanced form will be preferred.
- The potential impact of this mobility (possible continuations of the project, plans to apply for other sources of funding).
- The relevance of the research work in relation to the theme.
- The motivation of the candidates to participate in the programme.
In case of ex-aquo applications, the jury will give priority to younger researchers.
Award
The FINA recognises the quality and relevance of the work carried out by the laureates. Each member of the selected consortium will receive a grant from the French Institute of their country of affiliation:
- Finland: 2 000€
- Denmark: 14 925 DKK (approximately equivalent to 2 000€ at the present date)
- Norway: 23 000 NOK
- Sweden: 20 000SEK
The grant consists of a lump sum that will be awarded as a contribution to transportation, accommodation and living expenses for the planned stay (at least one week).
The provisional programme must be defined by the applicants, but the French Institutes will help the FINA 2026 laureates to set up their program and to make contacts.
Timeline
- June 19, 2026, at 23:59 CET – Deadline for applications,
- Late June 2026 – Announcement of the laureates,
- Mobility to France before December 15, 2026.
Do you have any questions?
- Finland: please contact the department for Scientific and Academic cooperation at science@france.fi.
- Denmark: please contact Mélissa Rahmouni, Scientific and Academic cooperation attaché at the Institut Français du Danemark, at mr@institutfrancais.dk.
- Norway: please contact the department for Scientific and Academic cooperation at science@france.no.
- Sweden: please contact Victor Ducret, Officer for scientific cooperation at the Institut français de Suède, at science@ifsuede.com.
